Noel Clarke's Kidulthood co-star Adam Deacon says he believes 'every single word' of his accusers


Noel Clarke’s Kidulthood co-star Adam Deacon today said he believed ‘every single word’ of 20 women accusing him of being a sexual predator.

Mr Deacon also accused his former friend of being a ‘sociopath’ guilty of ‘gas-lighting’ to such an extent that he had a nervous breakdown. 

Clarke’s career is on the rocks and he is facing a possible police investigation after at least 20 women came forward to describe years of abuse. They accused Clarke of sexual harassment, unwanted groping, bullying and forcing actors to take part in nude auditions between 2004 and 2019.

Clarke, a married father-of-three who is best known for the Kidulthood, Adulthood and Brotherhood trilogy, and who also appeared in Doctor Who, has denied the accusations but said he will seek help.

In a lengthy Twitter post Mr Deacon, who was found guilty of harassing Clarke in 2015, said: ‘I would like to start by saying I stand by all the women who have spoken out and told of their harrowing experiences with Noel Clarke.

‘I wholeheartedly believe every single word and I hope that anyone who is yet to come forward with information will be listened to.

‘I myself have been a victim of Noel Clarke for 15 years. My career was continually sabotaged and the gas lighting became so severe that it led to the complete breakdown of my mental health.

Noel Clarke and Adam Deacon appearing in Adulthood together, released in 2008. The friends fell out badly afterwards

Noel Clarke and Adam Deacon appearing in Adulthood together, released in 2008. The friends fell out badly afterwards

Mr Deacon has backed the women and said he was also vindicated after Clarke's fall from grace

Mr Deacon has backed the women and said he was also vindicated after Clarke’s fall from grace

‘As you will know, I have spoken out regarding this man’s sociopathic behaviour on multiple occasions but my claims were always dismissed. People dealing with mental health may at times explain things differently but they should still be believed.

‘I am extremely grateful for all the support that I have been shown over the last few days. While recent events have served as a small vindication for me I am beyond saddened by the pain that so many people have had to endure at the hands of Noel Clarke.

‘I am now looking towards a fresh start and focusing all my time and energy on my acting career.’

He fell out with Clarke when the Bafta award-winning star claimed that Deacon had ‘infringed on copyright’ by calling his 2010 spoof film Anuvahood.

Clarke, 45,  went onto accuse Deacon of waging an online trolling campaign against him, claiming at the 2015 trial that the 38-year-old had made death threats.

Deacon was found guilty of harassment without violence, banned from contacting Clarke and ordered to pay £500. 

Last night, Deacon posted a message on Instagram which said: 'Karma. No need for revenge. Just sit back and wait. Those who hurt you eventually screw up themselves and if you are lucky, god will let you watch'

Last night, Deacon posted a message on Instagram which said: ‘Karma. No need for revenge. Just sit back and wait. Those who hurt you eventually screw up themselves and if you are lucky, god will let you watch’

Clarke had set in motion Deacon’s acting career, picking him to star in Kidulthood, released in 2006, and Adulthood, which came out two years later.

When Deacon later decided to make a spin-off, Clarke supported him but insisted he not use the name Anuvahood.

Deacon made the movie and won a Bafta for it, but the pair ended up at Hammersmith Magistrates’ Court in 2015 as their row escalated, with Clarke accusing him of harassment.

Deacon denied the allegation, claiming instead the Clarke was trying to sabotage his career.  

In one message to Clarke, Deacon had sent a picture of his former co-star’s children with a gun emoji pasted onto it. 

‘It is a death threat isn’t it, really? If we are being honest,’ Clarke told the court in 2015.

Clarke said: ‘I supported him with that [contract] as long as he didn’t call that film Anuvahood which is what he did.

‘Since that point we haven’t spoken every now and again I would receive a barrage of abuse but essentially nothing massive happened until 2014 when I started getting massive abuse every time I opened my [Twitter] account to see people calling me a bully.

‘He released a barrage of abuse in a blog for on Instagram claiming I’d been bullying him for as long as he could remember and claiming I had stopped him getting an agent in the business.

‘None of these things were true in any way, shape or form, but things just continued from there.

‘Many of his fans believed the lies and were abusing me via Twitter.’ 

Deacon’s lawyer argued that he was ‘profoundly ill’ and suffering a ‘full mental breakdown’ at the time of the abuse.

He had used ‘skunk cannabis as a form of self medication,’ the lawyer said.

On Thursday night, The Guardian reported that 20 women were accusing Clarke of a range of sexual misconduct, which included sharing naked photos without their consent.

Clarke pictured with his wife, former make-up artist Iris Da Silva, at the 70th EE British Academy Film Awards at Royal Albert Hall in February 2017

Clarke pictured with his wife, former make-up artist Iris Da Silva, at the 70th EE British Academy Film Awards at Royal Albert Hall in February 2017

Clarke yesterday apologised ‘deeply’ for his actions and said he will be seeking professional help, but has ‘vehemently’ denied sexual misconduct or criminal behaviour.

The actor and producer, who is married to make-up artist Iris Da Silva, said it has become clear to him that ‘some of my actions have affected people in ways I did not intend or realise’, and offered an apology to those affected.

His comments came amid reports that Bafta spent two weeks deciding how best to respond to allegations against Clarke prior to presenting him with one of its highest honours, the Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema Award.

The father-of-three was suspended from Bafta following the allegations, while Sky took the decision to ‘halt’ filming of the latest series of his east London crime drama Bulletproof. 

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